Newport Select Boys Basketball Club Concussion Policy

 

Effective October 6, 2025

 

The Newport Select Boys Basketball Club (“NSBBC”) hereby adopts this Concussion Policy, which is subject to periodic review and revision as appropriate.

 

All NSBBC coaches and board members must complete concussion training at least annually, consisting of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Online Training for Coaches, currently available at https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/training/youth-sports.html.

 

If a concussion is suspected for any NSBBC athlete, during any practice, game, or other event, an NSBBC coach, board member, or other trained and approved volunteer must comply with the following 4-step concussion action plan.

 

• Step 1: Stop play or activity immediately. Stop practice or ask a referee to stop game play immediately when there are any concerns that an athlete has experienced a possible concussion.

 

• Step 2: Remove the athlete. Remove the athlete from the practice, game, or event, and do not return them to play, even if the athlete does not look visibly hurt. When in doubt, sit them out.

 

Continue to look for new and serious symptoms, which can show up hours after the initial injury. Even if no signs or symptoms appear, sit them out if there is any sign they could have a concussion. Get them to an emergency department quickly if any danger signs show up or if their symptoms seem to be getting worse.

 

• Step 3: Notify the parents or guardians. After removing the athlete, notify the parents or guardians that their child may have a concussion and needs to be checked out by a healthcare provider. Let them know that symptoms can take several hours to appear. Give them the concussion fact sheet for parents, or a link to CDC’s HEADS UP website. If a league administrator or medical staff is present, notify them too.

 

• Step 4: Document the injury. Document what happened so healthcare providers, parents, and others can make informed decisions. Take note of the time of injury, who else was involved, any signs you saw, and what symptoms were reported.

 

Note the steps taken after the injury, the surface the athlete hit, how hard the hit was, and the athlete’s reaction. Give a copy of the notes to the parents or guardians, to share with a healthcare provider if the athlete receives a medical assessment.

 

The athlete may not return to practice or play with NSBBC for at least 24 hours, after being cleared by a health care professional.